I use a TV antenna for all my televisions as our neighborhood never got cable. I had a Thanksgiving guest who told me I feel sorry for you in Feb 08 as I will have nothing as I have analog and everything is going digital. They said call and get some box!! Whats up???!! Is it really happening this soon?

Did a little searching and came up with this from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_television):

In the United States by no later than February 17, 2009, all U.S. television broadcasts will be exclusively digital, by order of the Federal Communications Commission, with legislation setting this deadline signed into law in early 2006.[4] Furthermore, starting March 1, 2007, new television sets that receive signals over-the-air, including pocket sized portable televisions, must include digital or HDTV tuners for digital broadcasts.[5] Currently, most U.S. broadcasters are beaming their signals in both analog and digital formats; a few are digital-only. Citing the bandwidth efficiency of digital TV, after the analog switch-off the FCC will auction off channels 52–59 (the lower half of the 700 MHz band) for other communications traffic[6], completing the reallocation of broadcast channels 52–69 that began in the late 1990s. The analog switch-off ruling, which so far has met little opposition from consumers or manufacturers, would render all non-digital televisions dark and obsolete within 2 years. The FCC has determined that an external tuning device can simply be added to non-digital televisions to lengthen their useful lifespan. (However, as of March 2007, external tuning devices are not widely available, are relatively expensive, and require bulky AC power supplies.) Currently, even the earliest televisions continue to work with present broadcast standards. This mandate was designed to help provide a painless transition to the new standards. On September 12, 2007, the FCC voted 5-0 on requiring cable operators to make local broadcasts available to their users, even those with analog television. This requirement lasts until 2012, when the FCC will review the case again.

Maybe someone else will know more. :howdy:

I guess this means I will have to replace my 16 y/o TV. :lol:

I guess this means I will have to replace my 16 y/o TV. :lol:
They have converter boxes.

I was told my cable box wouldn't work either and I have to upgrade cable boxes, meaning I'd need a supported TV (HD). :burning:

In February 2009, I'm just throwing my 27" away and going exclusively to Media Center.

There is supposed to be a Government program (http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/0,239035250,339274206,00.htm) to off set the cost of a digital-analog converter

I think they said that a percentage of the population has to have digital before they change over. otherwise it will be delayed... which the date has already been pushed back once.

I'm analog right now and the lower channels on the spectrum are very snowy. I called Metrocast and they are having a deal for digital cable being the same price as expanded basic for 6 months. I guess I'll be going to get my box on Monday to enjoy the DLP capabilities.

The conversion is only over the air broadcasts (that you need an antenna for). If you have cable you have nothing to worry about because the cable company will still send an analog signal over the cable.

Winegard makes a Digital TV Receiver, Camping World (http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=35000&src=SRQB)has had them for sale for sometime - they run about $149 to give you an idea...

Places like Best Buy aren't selling any analog televisions anymore and the prices on all LCD, DLP and Plasma sets have dropped considerably over the past several months.

We went full HD in my house a few years ago and we've been very happy with the results. You'll have to do it eventually anyways so if you can afford to than now is a good time to make the move. Once you go full HD you'll wonder how you got by without it. So much better....

I watch all my football games on a 65" DLP set in full HD via Directv's NFL Sunday Ticket and it's incredible....

Heck even Walmart sells HD sets at bargain prices now....

GH

I guess this means I will have to replace my 16 y/o TV. :lol:

You don't use cable...:confused:

I think they said that a percentage of the population has to have digital before they change over. otherwise it will be delayed... which the date has already been pushed back once.There will be no more delays granted for any analog TV broadcasting under any circumstance according to the FCC. The government is subsidizing the cost of a converter for consumers who can't afford a new TV.
After the full conversion, simple HDTV to analog set top converters [much like a cable box with a channel 3 output] will be offered virtually free with a coupon program as an "entailment" to the technological impoverished [I sure did not vote for that rule].
Other spectrum users are eager for the space the old analog TV channels now occupy. Another displaced group are the licensed users of professional wireless microphone systems, used for stage productions. They will all have to be moved as well. This transition should not worry anyone, the converters will maintain the usability of your current sets and should work fine.
Unlike high resolution analog audio which is wonderful, TV analog is marginal and not something we will long for in the way hardcore audiophiles lament the loss of true analog HiFi.
Bill Signal Bars R Us (http://www.signalbarsrus.com/)

Found this great article on Yahoo News yesterday
Retailers to sell TV converter boxes - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_hi_te/digital_tv_government)